नन्ही कोपल

एक नन्ही कोपल फूटी तो फिर आज बगीचे में आई बहार
अति कोमल व  सौम्य,
बाहरी दुनिया देखने को उत्सुक,
हज़ारों ख्वाबों से गोशे गोशे को महकाती,
संसार में अपने अद्भुत रंग बिखेरने को तैयार..
दो फूलों के रास का सार वह कोपल


जीवन की वास्तविकता से अनजान
खिलने की आस में हर पल रहती है बेक़रार.

कभी पवन वेग संग झूलती, मुस्कुराती हुई कई सपने बुनती
तो कभी सूर्य किरणों में नहाती, वह रहती जोश से निहाल,
झूमती उस कोपल की अटखेलियों से फिजा भी रहती खुशगवार..
आज तितलियाँ भवरे सब झूम रहे, उमंगित,
एक नव जीवन में चेतना से खुश मनो मना रहे हों त्यौहार..

फिर एक दिन पतझड़ ऐसा हुआ
की माली का उस नन्ही कोपल पर से विश्वास डगमगाया,
यह क्या खिलेगी? क्या रोशन करेगी मेरे बगीचे का नाम?
इस विचार से उसका मन भरमाया..

अपने सींचे हुए पोंधे से फल की कामना रखने वाले
स्वार्थी माली को नन्हे फूल का खिलना रास नहीं आया,
अपने हाथों से ही मसल दिया नवजात को उसने,
इस चरम तक स्वार्थ ने उसको अँधा बनाया
एक और नव जीवन माली की चमन खिलाने की
संकीर्ण महत्वकांक्षा का शिकार हुआ,    
उस दिन फिर बगीचे से एक और गुल आबाद हुए बिना ही बर्बाद हुआ..

उस कोपल को सजा मिली जन्नत के  ख्वाब सजाने की,
सत्य से  परिचय यूँ हुआ की कज़ा मिली स्त्री पहचान बताने की..
नवजात कोपल की संवेदनाओं के हत्यारे उस माली को कोई समझाये
की गुल से ही ख़ुशी होती है व चमन आबाद,
उजाड़ने वाले क्या जाने की
फूलों की सुगंध से ही आती है हर फिजा में बहार....  

आगे बढ़ा

नव खोज सा प्रतीत होता मुझको मेरा कारवां,

चक्षु प्रकाशित, ह्रदय उत्साहित, मुदित मन आगे बढ़ा,
कण-कण समेटे राह में रख पद कमल आगे बढ़ा...

रात सितारों ने झिलमिला कर थी नई जो राह सुझायी,
उस ही पथ, सर पर मुकुट, पुष्प-माल गल आगे बढ़ा...

चाप मथ सिन्दूर गढ़, ध्वज लाल संग आगे बढ़ा,
नभ तक पहुँच, रुक कर क्षणिक फिर ले विदा आगे बढ़ा...

पवन रथ पर हो सवार, काट घन आगे बढ़ा,
पहुँच प्रकाश नगरी जहाँ उन्मुक्त बह रही गगन गंगा,
लगा डूबकी, अमृतव चख, फिर प्रफूलित मन आगे बढ़ा...

अतुलित प्रसन्नचित, होम कर व्यथा, अनुराग सब मोह सुख,
बेराग के अंगोछे में कर हवन दुःख आगे बढ़ा...

अश्रु श्राद्ध कर, तार स्वयं को, नव प्रभात सन्मुख चला,
चक्षु प्रकाशित, ह्रदय उत्साहित, मुदित मन आगे बढ़ा...  

मैं और मेरा साया

वह शाम क्या कहूँ बस मेरी आँखों में नज़र आज भी है,
हल्की सी बची धूप से सजा असमान किसी मंझे हुए कलाकार 
की अद्भुत रचना मालूम पड रहा था, 
जिसमे बिखरे हुए रंग थे तो गूंजता संगीत भी,
नृत्य भी था व उमंग भी..  
कुछ बातें भी छिपी थी जहाँ 
व कुछ जज़्बात भी घर कर चुके थे..
जहाँ हवाओं संग झूमते पेड़ बेफिक्र अपनी महक लूटा रहे थे
तो पंछियों की मीठी आवाजों के कोलाहल से सुरमई थी सारी फिज़ा..

भावुकता की धार में कल्पना की नाव पर सवार 
मैं रोमांच की सभी सीमाओं को लांघ कर 
बहुत दूर निकल गया था, की तभी
शांत हवा एक झोंखा हल्के से मेरी 
आँखों तक पहुंचा तो कई पलों बाद मेरी पलकें झपकी
और पाया वहां नज़ारा कुछ और था,
चांदनी में नहाई हुई रजनी, आधी भीगी, आधी सुर्ख
अपने गीले केशों की छठा बिखेरती हुई सागर से निकली 
तो असर यूँ हुआ की पूरी फिज़ा को रंग चढ़ गया और अँधेरा हो गया....

वहाँ चाँद भी था थोडा खिला हुआ व तारे भी अपने किरदार में थे. 
नीले जल के बीचों-बीच बसे एक छोटे से टापू पर थे हम दोनों,
मैं और मेरा साया, खुशगवार माहोल था वहां
पर मेरा साया शायद कुछ रूठा था,
मैं टापू के ऊपर तो वह पानी पर लेटा था..
मैं उत्साहित था, वह निराश..
मैं हर्षित मन से विकसित, वह सर्व दुखों से सिकुड़ा हुआ 
मेरे विचलित मन की व्यथा थी जिससे मेरा साया चिंतित था,
मैं तो फिर भी बहल गया पर वह स्तब्ध स्थिर था, 
मैं कल्पना से भ्रमित था शायद परन्तु वह सत्य से परिचित था..

उस दिन कुछ यूँ था मेरा साया,
मुझसे अधिक जीवित, मुझसे अधिक गहरा....  
  

When It is a lunar eclipse

When, I sit alone on the courtyard in a lunar eclipse.
I curiously gaze at the moon to find my answers through the whole night,
but it seems flunked like me, eclipsed behind the clouds, unable to save its own light.

Dissatisfaction is the trails of imbalance, I bosom in my heart,
endless clamours overflow within, trolling and darting like an abstract art.
Keep rising desires scorch me like the flames of burning fires,
whole body seared with torment, carting me to the desperate despairs.
Shadow cries with the thirst of salvation but soul craves to survive,
this anarchy creates chaos and leaves me in the pursuit of a life.
Irresistible demands squeeze the sky in my dreams,
like a long hopeless search in the steeped dark night for the beams.
Life flows in with so many falls of new beings but unable to trace one,
like a melting candle lighting the whole surrounding, eventually lost by its own flame.

My heart screams “Why I wish? Why I desire?”
There are lots of titans inside me sharing the same spheres.
I brood sometimes for increasing the evil transactions on the pavement inside,
there is no accounting, there is no archive, there is nothing to refer at my side.
Just a lost uncalculated cluster of goods which is flourishing inside as dreams,
I wonder I was born naked but gradually became wicked just to chase false fames.
I am overburdened with the fictitious desires which shall reduce my living,
Oh my God! I implore, I sue for peace, please return me the reason of my being.
I am disillusioned from all the traps and complexities today,
Just the last desire is to rest my soul in peace some day.

I find myself reposed at the same place 
when I come back from the ride of my thoughts,
the night swoops over my desire, 
sometimes night, sometimes the desire near winning the fight.
At last the desire succumbs to the darkness of the night in the blitz,
this story, when I sit alone on the courtyard in a lunar eclipse.

The War: A free form verse

It was an uneasy day scheduled for destruction. 

Soldiers with loaded guns stormed the foes

with the same course of action from the other side.

There was no humanism, what all there was, flying bullets, 

the dash sounds of thirsty swords licking blood, spears ready to poke 

and the laying bodies on muddy surface with deep wounds and slashes.   

The vehement sounds of haughtiness dominated 

the screams and yells around. No one there was inferior, 

they all charged up like the thunder to fall over others.

Lots of innocent people were burned as if they were a bundle of woods,

some were buried like the same way seeds inside the land. 

Everyone scattered around with feverishness, yelling for their lives, 

some were evacuated, some rendered homeless and some were beheaded.

Even the Sun that day was behind the clouds for backing itself

not being witnessed of the major laying waste. 

Breezes were not the same; they blew with the smell of hate and immorality along.

Flying Birds were only safe, sometimes not, when the bullet reached them without informing. 

Because the bullets alone there, had no discrimination.      

The revenge of no personal grudges was still the matter of pride. 

Armed men decided to back home after making few never go back. 

The immolation and killing spread far away till the reach of sight. 

It was a disheartened scene with regular progression for a long.

Hours later there was nothing left but a silence 

which was bestowed with torment, the earth had lost so many hearths. 

Place was calm. There was no manly uttering around just few dogs, crows and reptiles.

Dogs there were barking happily, they got lot to have, 

but it was again a war because a troop of cawing crows reached near. 

It was dogs’ barking and crows’ cawing and 
crows’ cawing and dogs’ barking alternately.

They were fighting for the wastes of the decapitated ones

who were unfortunately killed while fighting...

The fight which began, left nothing, neither the people nor the reasons.   

  

A selfish new day

A new day is to find a new
mask to put on..
a fake image to get in and
an ample thought to move on..
You lash on the asses of fellow
vies for long an eon...
On the canvas of hypocrisy
the layers of impression you drawn..
A sense of nosense run to defeat the
world, knowing within, you already gone..

A new day is to survive with an ease
 in a tough competition..
Down people into your bottle
to use them in your own operation..
A disrespect for others
as a disposal to light your obsession..
Battle you want to win
on the black path of shallow conviction..
A selfish new day is to celebrate
the bash of a new subjection..

"The last dream--Where aspirations defeat death.."

"Ishaan", the name was enough to mesmerize the whole fraternity as he was all set to play his part once again. He was expected to outperform and pounce on the subjection every time sent to the competitions. He was never to be failed, be it sports, Singing, art exhibitions or studies. The man with various colors. It was a great show right from the time I entered in. He was scrupulously doing his job with sprinkling the salt drops from every part of his body. The moment was ripe with potentiality. He was shining alone for his dedication though not noticed in the throng of big names. He put some more stars on the reputation of IIT Roorkee. I was amazed to see his caliber and impeccable skills on the field. I thanked Deepak for giving me an opportunity to be a witness of his talismanic performance that day. It was narcissistic though necessary to show my overwhelming emotions about the magical performance of Ishaan. Match was finished but the seriousness on his face was still alive. He was sitting on chair recapitulating the ups and downs of the match as if he was setting his task for upcoming matches which brought me to imagine the great stalwart Rahul dravid making his plans for the next game. He preferred to settle on the chair unlike other team mates who were cheering for the another wonder created by him with not out 85 runs in just 52 balls in the crucial situation when once score was 52/4 in 10 overs, remained 40 overs and 215 runs were still to be chased. What a nail biting match. Deepak did not deprive me, meeting the champion anymore as he could recognize my hankered eyes in pursuit of Ishaan. He took me to the rest room which was glass framed. I was inquisitive on my way controlling the stream of questions flowing out to interview Ishaan. “Congrats Ishaan, very good job done” Deepak wished him for his exotic performance “the best of the day”. I proceeded my hand to wish too. I kept gulping questions not to let them out but could not control. “Ishaan, how come you are so consistent of taking studies along with sports? You are best at both though.” I still held his hand tight. Ishaan wanted to response but was interrupted by Deepak for introduction. He is my friend Mukesh Pandey, has come all the way from Delhi to watch you playing.” “Very true, you are more efficient than I conjectured, you would be. Deepak kept raising my curiosity by telling the range of good things about you. It was seriously fascinating to hear about one from the other prodigy.” He seemed still without any floating reactions after having received the tons of applause from me. He kept puffing as he really had a long time over the crease and the sun was breaking out with the extreme of heat at 2 o’clock in the noon. I wanted to proceed the conversation but there was a resonance coming from the ground calling the shining Armour to be rewarded for such an extra-ordinary match wining inning. “He was used to of it”, I thought as he was merely excited. He kept a blooming smile while giving a pose with man of the match trophy. A droplet of sweat was happily rolling down behind his left ear through neck towards his chest seemed it was cheering with slight swing for being fortunate emerging from Ishaan’s body. The moment was really blissful and graced my day spending in IIT Roorkee. I had heard about the exceptions studying in the premium institutes like IITs and then I met the boy who lived up to all the sayings up to mark.

I was still in the aura of Ishaan’s simplicity and extreme talent. It was not because of his knock which he had played to get his team to win but the way he treated the fame was really adorable. He on the chariot of success with various skills in his quiver was still rooted. I had been sitting with Deepak at ganga ghat remembering the glimpse of Ishaan’s spark for a long. We did not talk to each other for about an hour. Quiet I just put my eyes at the ethereal water of the most holy river ganga, which was rapidly flowing. The sound of water running over the rocky bed fetched my attention. Ganga the river which attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists, from within India, as well as from other countries, could not fascinate me. I was running with Ishaan’s flow. “He is truly a gem, it was worth watching him. I anticipate he’ll glorify his name all across the country.” I initiated the conversation. “Yes he can, but I am not really sure he’ll, whereas towards the end of life it becomes easier to soak up all the positive energy and channel it towards achieving goals.” Deepak responded me with a low voice. “What do you mean by towards the end of life?” “Ishaan has got bowel cancer. It is from uncontrolled cell growth in the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine), or in the appendix. Symptoms typically include rectal bleeding and anaemia which are sometimes associated with weight loss and changes in bowel habits. He was first hit by anemia and then it took place as cancer. He was 16 when he got to know about it. Initially enmeshed with sorrows but gradually he developed the courage to face the reality and has been enduring it for 5 years now. Doctors have given up, but he has not. He lives for others and wants to beam the whole world with his spark. He lives for his dreams irrespective of the fact they are not for long. This is Ishaan, a boy always comes with solutions but can’t save his own life.” Deepak removed his glasses and started weeping. I also felt a drop on my finger, I refused but then could not hide the rill of tears gushing from the ocean of my eyes. It got more pace and flow than Ganga. After listening to Deepak, Getting goosebumps I was stunned for few minutes. It was the clash of noises coming from the flow of the river and the screams from my inner soul. I was dissatisfied. Ishaan’s glowing face kept coming in front of me. I was unable to believe that the future of the country would sooner be history. It was really sad. 
It was 6.30 in the evening and all the priests had been set to start the most famous event (the Ganga pooja) of that place as the sun was off for the day. We stood for five minutes for prayer and left the place. Although we did not share with each other but could figure out the wish that we kept from Ganga Maa.